Filmmaking & The Art of Sales: Presence, Storytelling & Personal Brand w/ Jake Isham
Episode SummaryIs sales a science or a performance art? In this episode of Thoughts on Selling, Lee Levitt sits down with Jake Isham, a filmmaker, creative director, and founder of Creative Minds Agency.
Jake’s story is pure art-meets-entrepreneurship. He started as an actor, moved behind the camera to direct, and eventually became what he calls an "accidental marketer." We dig deep into the intersection of Storytelling and Revenue—exploring how the best salespeople are actually performers. Not in a fake way, but in the sense that they possess Presence, they listen to the "scene," and they improvise based on the customer's reaction.
From the value of expertise (the "Knowing Where to Tap" parable) to the myth of viral fame, this conversation challenges the idea that sales is just about metrics. It’s about creating a feeling that sticks.
Memorable Quotes:
"The right views matter more than viral views. You don’t need a million followers—you need the right audience." — Jake Isham
"Be interested, not interesting. Shift the spotlight to the customer; that’s where trust begins."
"Sales is an art form. The goal isn’t to pitch harder... it’s to create an effect."
3 Actionable Takeaways for Leaders:
Sales as "Improv": Scripted sales calls kill deals. Jake explains that great acting (and great selling) is about Presence. Leaders need to train reps not just to memorize lines, but to "listen to the scene" and adapt. Authenticity beats polish every time.
The "Right Views" Metric: Stop obsessing over vanity metrics. In B2B, a video with 50 views from the right decision-makers is worth infinitely more than a viral video with 100k views from teenagers. Focus your personal brand on relevance, not reach.
The $10,000 Tap: We discuss the classic story of the mechanic who charges $10,000 to tap a machine with a hammer. You aren't charging for the tap; you're charging for the years of mastery that taught you where to tap. Teach your team to sell their expertise, not their time.
Key Topics & Timestamps:
(00:00) – Introduction: The "Accidental Marketer."
(05:15) – Acting vs. Selling: Why presence is the core skill for both.
(11:30) – Be Interested, Not Interesting: Flipping the script on ego.
(18:45) – The Business of Creativity: Blending craft with commerce.
(26:20) – The "Right" Views: Why viral content is a trap for B2B sellers.
(33:10) – Knowing Where to Tap: Valuing your own expertise.
(41:00) – Personal Branding: How documenting your story builds long-term leverage.
About Our Guest:
Jake Isham is a Filmmaker, Creative Director, and the Founder of Creative Minds Agency. With a background in acting and directing, Jake helps brands tell authentic stories that drive revenue. He specializes in video marketing, personal branding, and helping businesses bridge the gap between "Corporate" and "Creative."
About the Host:
Lee Levitt is a seasoned sales performance consultant, sales coach and the Principal of The Acelera Group. With decades of experience in Sales, Sales Leadership, Sales Enablement, Revenue Operations, and Sales Performance Management, Lee helps emerging and enterprise organizations build disciplined, replicable sales operating systems. He is the voice behind the Thoughts on Selling™ brand, covering the intersection of deal mechanics and the "Inner Game" of selling.
Related Episodes:
Ep [Prev]: Improv for Sales w/ Kevin Hubschmann: More on the "Yes, And" mindset.
Ep [Prev]: The Human Side of Sales w/ Lester Sidney: Authenticity and trust.
Ep 76: Who Are You? w/ Gerhard Gschwandtner: The role of self-awareness in success.
Resources & Links:
The Agency: Check out Creative Minds Agency.
Connect with Jake: Find Jake Isham on LinkedIn.
Subscribe: Get the Thoughts on Selling newsletter at thoughtsonselling.com.
Keywords:Storytelling in Sales, Personal Branding, Video Marketing, Sales Performance, Jake Isham, Creative Minds Agency, Improv for Sales, Authentic Selling, B2B Marketing Strategy, Content Creation, Sales Psychology, Acting and Sales
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